Page 15 | Uni Freshers 2016 (second thread)

hellsbells99 · 04/12/2016 09:04

It worries me that they commit themselves so early to a house for next year - I hope they don't fail the year or drop out! DD2 has signed for an 8 bedroom house she tells us - we haven't been asked to be guarantors. DD1 isn't sorted yet - there original group have split up a bit so now she has some viewings for 5 bed houses next week.
DD2 is coming home next Saturday and DD1 the Saturday after - I think!
Both DDs due back at uni on 9th Jan but DD1 has an exam fortnight and DD2 has an exam week.

Leeds2 · 04/12/2016 10:08

I too can't work out if the railcard has been paid for!

My DD back on 22nd, and home until 15th Jan.

OhFuds · 04/12/2016 10:45

No, I've not paid for it! I phoned the helpline twice so the 1st advisor has decided to refund me but I didn't know that so when I phoned again to find out what was happening the next advisor sorted out the railcard and I got one posted out. Obviously no communication between departments.

Squirrills · 04/12/2016 10:48

Got DS home yesterday . He's spending the weekend wrapped up on the sofa watching Netflix. He's back around the 7th Jan with a week of exams. DS2 will be back next weekend. The house is already messy again . Dh and I have more or less got used to being on our own. I wonder whether it will be harder when they disappear again in January?

The housing thing seems to vary throughout the country. A friend has a DS in Sheffield who has already signed up for a house and they had individual contracts with parents as guarantors.
DS has been told by the uni and by older students that there is a plentiful supply of places in York and they should take their time.

placeofworkshop · 04/12/2016 22:07

Checking in to see how everyone's getting on, now the first term's nearly over. It seems to have gone on a long time! My dd's got better & more settled but I wouldn't say we were out of the woods yet, and I think exams and househunting anxiety will overshadow her Christmas break

hellsbells99 · 04/12/2016 22:30

Hi Place. Glad to hear your DD is more settled. DD2 has had a few wobbles but seems ok now. I just hope being home for 4 weeks at Xmas doesn't unsettle her. DD1 is enjoying both her course and her uni (she has started again this year after a disastrous last year). Both are working very hard and the courses seem very full-on. It will be good to have them home soon. Although as with your DD, they will need to be revising for January exams.

placeofworkshop · 05/12/2016 01:08

Hi Hells , know what you mean, 4 weeks is such a long time, i hope it doesn't mean back to square one in January!

Dunlurking · 05/12/2016 10:07

Checking in as well. Ds has finally found flatmates for next year and even a house. He was reassured at an accommodation fair last week that Warwick university releases their off campus properties in batches right up until March so please don't panic anyone with dcs there. Apparently you just need to keep checking their website for new releases' viewing appointments. He was lucky with a cancellation yesterday but they would have been happy to leave it until next term. And I'm pleased to say the prices are reasonable and they don't pay for the summer - having the university for a landlord has some benefits it seems.

Good luck all for the last (few) weeks of term. I can't wait to get ds back. We shall go straight from collecting him at the train station on saturday to buying the christmas tree. Even dd is excited - and they are siblings that squabble like mad.

GasLightShining · 05/12/2016 14:05

End of term is getting ever nearer

DS is coming home this Friday. Thought he wouldn't have any work over the holidays which was stressing me out (in fact I think even he was worried!). Has two days as soon as he gets back and hopefully he will get more but at least two is better than nothing

I will be having a chat with over Christmas regarding accommodation. I want them to make sure that they look properly when viewing properties and not sign anything without me checking. Does that make me too controlling?

Lovelybangers · 05/12/2016 14:21

Sounds like all the DC are coping pretty much?

I had my lovely DS home this weekend for a family party. I hadn't seen him since October 2!

He went back last night and finishes fir Xmas on 18 Dec or thereabouts?

It was strange seeing him after all that time but felt easier letting go again last night now that I can see he isn't emaciated and bedraggled

Still looking for house share but I'm sure he'll manage

dottygamekeeper · 05/12/2016 14:58

My DD is coming home from York on Wed - she seems really settled, and things are going well, though she is anxious re exams at the start of next term.

DS doesnt finish til Friday, but is then off on the uni ski trip so not back until 17 Dec and has to be back in Falmouth on 3 Jan (very early it seems to me). He was having a wobble last week about not having chosen the right course, accommodation for next year etc etc, but sounded a bit happier as he got a confidence boost when he got some feedback on his latest assignment and was told it would merit a First, though this year doesn't count towards their degree.

I have said we will discuss the course etc over Christmas (and may need to PM you, HellsBells, if he decides he is not at the right place/course for him, as I have no idea what we do from there if he wants to look elsewhere)

hellsbells99 · 05/12/2016 19:42

Feel free to pm me Dotty.

hennipenni · 05/12/2016 20:20

Wow, can't believe we're nearly at the end of the first term! Fetching DD back on the 17th but not sure how long she's home for!

She's undecided as to who to share with next year, either others from her course or her flat mates who she's in halls with- don't envy her making the choice as she says she gets on equally well with both.

EllenJanethickerknickers · 05/12/2016 20:51

GasLight I haven't vetted DS1's accommodation choices at all, bar nagging him to get on with it and to take the lead rather than relying on others to do the leg work. He's chosen a fairly cheap (and pretty basic) house which is fine by me. I guess I'd be less happy if it was really expensive or if I was expected to be a guarantor. For me, I think it's time to take a back seat unless he actually asks for help or advice. I don't know your DC, though, so that may not work for you.

Dunlurking houses seem to get snapped up very, very quickly from the Warwick website. No time to view before reserving, though they can reserve then view and back out. DS says they lost out on quite a few houses because they thought they could view them before deciding to reserve them. I'd recommend your DS gets his group sorted out and agreed within plenty of time. Only the group leader can reserve a house, so make sure it's someone reliable. DS realised eventually that he needed to step up and take the lead rather than trusting others to do it for him. Two groups he was originally in fell apart with in-fighting and back-stabbing. He's with a nice group of misfits now, and they've signed up to a house.

I'll be picking DS up on Saturday. We'll probably give his next year house a quick fly by. Looking forward to having him home. I haven't heard much about his course lately. Hopefully that's not a bad sign...

Dunlurking · 06/12/2016 15:59

Ellen I'm glad your ds is sorted. I must have misunderstood the process my ds was explaining to me. Maybe they reserved the properties before viewing. Anyway he has signed up for one. I think he was haunting the relevant website for a few days waiting for cancellations and being an arts student he had the time He seemed to miss out on the infighting and backstabbing, although I think he turned down some private approaches trying to pry him away from his original group at the last minute. Quite flattering considering a week ago I was worried no one wanted him!

GasLightShining · 06/12/2016 17:08

Ellen I meant not to sign anything without me having a quick look over the contract rather than me checking the accommodation. He will probably humour me as he knows what I am like about reading contracts!

EllenJanethickerknickers · 06/12/2016 17:10

Ah, that's good, Dunlurking. I think DS has realised he's not quite in with the in crowd. He's friends with lots of people but not 'best friends' and when his group of 7 or 8 lads split up he ended up being in the b team. I think he's with a nice bunch but they aren't particularly extrovert, shall we say. Possibly easier to live with, though.

EllenJanethickerknickers · 06/12/2016 17:12

Crossed with you, Gaslight. I see what you mean. DS has got his house through the university so doesn't have an unscrupulous landlord to deal with.

GasLightShining · 06/12/2016 17:23

I think DS will be doing that Ellen and I know they have an accommodation fayre as soon as they go back. I'm sure he will be ok but I need to learn to step back!

Dunlurking · 06/12/2016 17:36

Ellen I don't think ds is in an a or b team but rather a bunch of shy students who opted out of teams!

Leeds2 · 06/12/2016 18:48

I would much prefer my DD to have a uni landlord than a private one (horrific memories of my own private landlord student accommodation!). I am hoping that that is what she will go with, but knowing DD she could end up anywhere!

Would also prefer to live with a bunch of non extroverts, both now and back when I was a student.

Dunlurking · 06/12/2016 19:48

Ditto, ditto Leeds . I'm very relieved.

raspberryrippleicecream · 09/12/2016 23:04

DS is signed up for his house next September. He changed his mind from staying on campus to signing a contract in a week do I hope he's done the right thing!

He's sharing with 2 friends from secondary, one if whom he has been friends with since Primary school.

Uni management, includes all bills, wifi, TV licence and TV, termly cleaning of communal areas, and the same personal contents insurance as the uni accommodation. It looked very nice on the pictures.

EllenJanethickerknickers · 10/12/2016 19:47

That sounds like a good bet, rasberryripple. DS's is also managed by the uni but all services have to be organised by the students, including internet. I picked him up today and gave the house a fly by. It looks fine, if a bit close to a railway line! [griin]

Lovely to have him home, it's like he's never been away. Washing currently in the machine...

Dunlurking · 10/12/2016 20:35

Ds came home on the train and we all met him and headed off to buy the Christmas tree. We've had a lovely time decorating it, then all sitting down in front of Strictly. So wonderful to have a saturday evening together again.
Good luck with the washing Ellen. Travelling with a just a suitcase that also contains a myriad of books for 4 holiday essays does limit the space for dirty washing